Hunting-boat



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. DANZ, 2d. HUNTING BOAT.

nted May 25, 97.

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n4: mums PETERS cu. Pnoruuwo.wAsmuoTomn. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB DANZ, 2D, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

HUNTING-BOAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 583,033, dated May 25, 1897.

Application filed July 8, 1895. Serial No- 555,222. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB DANZ, 2d, ofSt. Paul, Ramsey county, Minnesota, have invented certain Improvements in Hunting- Boats, of which the'following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in hunting-boats, its object being to provide an adjustable pit or blind therefor, the top of which will be nearly on a level with the top of the boat, but which will be deep enough to accommodate the hunter, so that he cannot be seen by the birds until they are directly overhead.

To this end myinvention consists in forming the boat to receive a removable pit or compartment which serves to carry the hunter, ammunition, &c. This pit is deep enough to accommodate the occupant, and normally projects downward through the bottom of the boat, so that its top will be nearly upon a level with the top thereof. The pit is adapted to be secured in raised position, so that its downwardly-projecting bottom will be raised out of the water when necessary in passing through shallow water. It is also preferably provided with an adjustable awning to shield the hunter from the rays of the sun and rain and for use as a sail. The boat itself outside of the pit is entirely closed and filled with air-tight cans.

My invention further consists in the construction and combination hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l is a plan view of my improved boat, part of the top being broken away to show the air-tight cans. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, showing the pit raised. Fig. 3 is a similar view, the pit being shown in lowered position ready for use. Fig. 4 is a view of the pit removed. Fig. 5 is a similar View of a modified form of compartment to be substituted for the hunting-pit when the boat is used for ordinary rowing. Fig. 6 is a detail of the air-tight compartments for one end of the boat, and Fig. 7 is a similar view of the awning-supports.

In the drawings the hull of the boat, as shown, is of the usual shape and is made of sheet metal or other suitable material. The center of the boat is formed with a recess 2, the wall 3 of which projects preferably above the top surface of the boat and provided with suitable oar-locks 4, the bottom of this recess being formed with the central opening 5. Adapted to fit in this recess is the pit or compartment A, which serves to carry the occupant of the boat. This pit is formed with the body portion 7, which fits in the recess 2, and the smaller central part 8, which projects down through the opening 5 into the water. The pit A is adapted to be held in raised position, as shown in Fig. 2, by means of the double braces 9. These braces connect the top of the pit with the wall 3 of the recess 2, one member of each brace being provided with a slot 10, which fits over a pin 11 upon the other member, so as to hold the brace rigid when the pit is raised. The braces are preferably connected with the pit by means of the chain and pin connection 12, so that they can be disconnected from the pit when desired, allowing the same to be removed. I also provide the pit with the awning 13, the supports 14 for which fit in selected ones of the holes 15 in the edge of the pit. These holes are formed entirely around the pit, so that the awning can be placed in any desired position, the holes also serving to receive a cord, from which branches, &c., may be strung to disguise the pit from the birds when in use.

In Fig. 5 is shown a modified form of compartment 0, adapted to be placed in the recess 2 in substitution for the pit A when the boat is used for ordinary rowing. The interior of the boat between each end and the recess 2 is filled with air-tight compartments 16. These compartments maybe placed into the boat independently or be formed into a framework B (see Fig. 6) by soldering the cylindrical cans together and by similarly connecting to them a large end compartment conforming to and fitting in the end of the boat, the whole filling the space between the recess 2 and the end of the boat.

In rowing the boat the pit A is kept in lowered position, so as to steady'the boat and keep the oars more nearly on a level with the surface of the water. In passing through water which is too shallow, on account of the downwardly-projecting part 8, the pit can be raised, as shown in Fig. 2, and the boat poled until deeper water is reached. The pit may be easily raised by the occupant stepping out upon the hull of the boat, when the pressure of the waterunderneath the pit will cause it to fly up into raised position, the braces straightening out and locking.

\Yhen the hunting-ground is reached, the boat is covered with moss or reeds and the wall 3 covered with branches of rice by means of a cord passed through the holes 15 of the pit, so as to give the whole the appearance of a muskrat-pile. Formed through the boat at either end of the pit are the holes 1 7,through which the oars may be passed into the mud below when the boat is at rest to hold it stationary.

In use the hunter stands in the downwardlyprojecting part 8 of the pit, the bottom of the upper orlarger portion 7serving as a rest for the ammunition, the. It also serves as a seat in rowing the boat. The hunter is thus hid from the sight of the birds until they are directly overhead. 'lhe awning is so constructed (see Fig. that with the wind in the right direction it can be used as a sail.

I claim 1. In a boat of the class described, the combination with the hull thereof, of the opentop recess formed therein, and provided with a bottom opening" smaller than said recess, and the pit or blind for the hunter normally projecting through said opening and vertically adjustable in said recess.

2. In a boat of the class described, the combination with the hull thereof, of the opentop recess formed therein, the pit or blind for the hunter vertically adjustable in said recess, and the means for locking said pit in raised position with its top projecting above the top of said recess.

3. In a boat of the class described, the com bination with the hull thereof, of the open top recess formed therein, the pit or blind for the hunter vertically adjustable in said recess, and the braces connecting the top of said pit and said boat, and adapted to hold the pit locked in raised position.

4. In a boat of the class described, the combination with the hull thereof, of the recess formed therein, and provided with a bottom opening smaller than said recess, of the pit or compartment vertically adjustable in said recess, and provided with a downwardly-projecting portion normally projecting through said opening, and means for locking said pit in raised position.

5. In a boat of the class described, the combination with the hull thereof, of the recess formed therein, the wall of said recess projecting above the top of the boat, the pit vertically adjustable in said recess, and the braces connecting said pit and said upwardlyprojecting wall, to hold the pit locked in raised position.

(5. As an improved article of manufacture a hunting-boat, having a recess formed there in, and a pit or blind for the hunter vertically adjustable in said recess, and provided with openings in the wall of the same through which a cord may be passed for the purposes described.

7. In a boat of the class described, the combination with the hull thereof, of the recess formed therein, the pit or blind vertically adjustable in said recess, the brace-arms connecting said pit and boat, and adapted to hold the pit locked in raised position, and the interlocking' connection between said arms.

8. In a boat of the class described, the cont bination with the hull thereof, of the recess formed therein, the pit or blind for the hunter vertically adjustable in said recess, the bracearms connecting said pit and boat, and adapted to be extended to hold the pit locked in raised, position, and the pin upon one of said arms engaging a slot in the connected arm when the same are extended.

9. In a boat of the class described, the com bination with the hull thereof, of the recess formed therein, the pitor blind for the hun tcr, vertically adjustable in said recess, and the means for locking said pit in raised position, and the awning carried bysaid pit, and adapted to be set in adjusted positions.

In testimony whereof I at'lix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JACOB I)1\NZ, Q1).

Citnesses: I

ARTHUR 'l. liornnor, hIINNIlC L. THAUWALI). 

